AudiLover

half uni graduates are all half wits anyway. Most of them end up in 30-40k a year jobs. Nothing special there, anyone with any sense will work towards being their own boss

jaytc2003

iTrader: (1)

think NS04 summed it up before, some jobs require the qualifications, whilst others dont. Also as Scoobydoo555 mentioned, there are far to many degrees available nowadays, alot of them are pure Billshut and a basically a waste of time. I also believe the NVQ type of qualification is going to be better in the long run as it is a real world qualification gained with on the job experience (im currently about to start a level 4 nvq myself), as a manager I would pick experience/vocational qualification over a degree anyday (assuming all other things being equal).

Flatcapdriver

Unless the applicant has some form of vocational degree, then generally speaking we're not too impressed by any of the current qualifications unless the individual has an IB or MBA.

Too many of our graduate entry have been a complete waste of time and make you wonder why universities don't make life skills a core part of their teaching.

DrEvil

LOL - you know what, I was just thinking the same, but can't see him lurking round here either...

Dream Weaver

Unless you do a career related degree, then it doesn't really set you up for the real world in terms of jobs - when I finished my degree I expected to get a good job on £30k a year, I in fact ended up in a call centre for £8k a year (1992)

What it DOES set you up for is responsibility, looking after yourself, team work, andother skills such as report writing, meeting deadlines etc.

There are also still old school bosses that likes to see someone with a degree. The call centre I worked at had a few graduates, and some that had been there since 16. After 3 years i'd managed to work my way up to assistant warehouse/logistics manager, and then we had a BPR chap that came in, and ended up having me on his team because he spotted I had a business degree.

Those that had started at 16 were still in the same call centre.

From all my group of friends and family, those that did the uni/degree thing have all done better, career and money wise, than those that didn't.

And apart from all the career stuff, it was the best 4 years of my life

SJ_Skyline

The key thing is that after 3-4 years hard work at university, some grads come out thinking the world owes them a living. Wrong. The hard work is just starting and if you want to succeed then you need to continue to work hard.

Leslie

My old employer did exactly the same thing, in fact they paid for their degree education. When they had finished they got fast tracked as well. The trouble was they had no practical experience and were incapable of doing the job
properly, especially when it came to understanding how to manage a workforce. Many of them were unable to command any respect and had to rely on their position to order people around.

I think that it all depends on the job you wish to do which will dictate how much practical use you actually get out of a university education. The type of subject you read is also pretty important in that respect. In the end, success is largely down to the amount of intelligence possessed, and that is something that you can't teach, only the best way to use it.

Les

RB5_245

I reckon these half baked degrees like PR, and business management that help reduce the respect for degree courses. I'd be inclined to say it's not worth it. Out of the people In my age bracket (mid 20's) the highest payed in general jobs are the people that learned a trade.

Lots of graduates come out with still no clue what they want to do and end up working for a corporation of some sort for a pittance. The people that started in a trade are the ones with nice houses and cars and no backlog of student debt. They would also seem to be more inclined to grow up during this and realise the world doesn't owe them a living.

Just from my experience as most of my friends have gone one way or the other.

Dave

Hoppy

It is wrong to confuse education with intelligence. It is better to be smart.

Smart people learn fast, and often have motivating personalities.

But once a plonker, always a plonker, even with a degree.

Richard.

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Sounds familiar, but I havent got a degree either ?

Nigel H

A bit of a novelty thread on Scoobynet - interesting points, balanced arguments, no trolls

Speaking as a forty odd year old grad in an Engineering job, I couldn't do my work without my degree qualification. So yes it helped and yes I earn lots more than people I was at school with who didn't get a degree.

One point I don't think has been made so far is that I think a degree gives you an insight into people's capacity. In my experience a good degree from a good uni will generally indicate a smart intelligent person, who is, on balance, more likely to deliver, but of course there are lots of other issues. It's a good starting point though .

GCollier

Admittedly there are a lot of dross degrees available nowadays (typically "bull**** studies" from some third-rate institution), but a decent degree from a good university still speaks volumes about the person.

Even outside of the traditional professions, many of the top companies simply won't consider you without a good degree - your CV will simply go in the bin.

I went to Cambridge University, and fantastic time there aside, still consider it 3 years well spent. It's opened up opportunities and earning potential for me which are just completely unavailable to other members of my family and old school peer group without a decent education.

Gary.

jaytc2003

iTrader: (1)

I see what your saying there and it is a good point, and depending on what the job role was could play a part.

In my circle of friends I would say just less than half have a degree in various things. 2 have I.T degrees, 1 has a degree in something to do with polymers and other chemicals and I cant even remember what the other person has a degree in. The only person doing well is the person who I cant remember what the degree is. He earned over 100k last year. He is in I.T sales (I do know his degree was totally un related to I.T). Of the others with degrees I would say they are earning no more than 20k (none are doing jobs related to their degrees - this is around the north west).

On the other hand, I have no degree (although about to start on an nvq 4) and am on a decent wage, 3 of my mates have got there own business (1 x builder 1 x all round tradesmen, 1 x office furniture sales and installations) both builders are doing very well and are fully booked up work wise until very late in this year, and another is earning good money just watching gauges in a chemical plant and pressing a button if the gauges go into the red!! (He gets through a lot of books reading)